Burien homeless encampment sweep moves forward as new lease takes effect

People who live in a homeless encampment on Burien city property are moving again — the second time in two months, now that the Burien City Council is allowing a local animal shelter to lease the land in question.

The sweep is controversial.

King County warned the city it was potentially running afoul of court rulings on the constitutionality of criminalizing people sleeping in public when they have nowhere else to go.

At a heated meeting on May 30, city council members heard public pressure both in favor of and opposed to clearing the camp.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with KUOW reporter Casey Martin as he was out at the camp, watching belongings being loaded into dump trucks.

Martin reported on the contentious council meeting, and councilmembers' failure to find a solution.

Soundside also spoke with Burien Councilmember Cydney Moore about her votes in the meeting, and the difficulty in finding middle ground.

You can listen to the full segment by clicking the play button at the top of this story.